Crime Free AZ - Andrew Thomas, Maricopa County Attorney's Office

Maricopa County
Attorney's Office
301 West Jefferson Street
Phoenix, Arizona 85003

ELDER ABUSE

TIP: Do not provide personal information via the phone or internet unless you

initiate the call.

Elder abuse is a term referring to any knowing, intentional, or negligent act by a caregiver or any other person that causes harm or a serious risk of harm to a vulnerable adult. It can constitute physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, exploitation, neglect and abandonment.

In recognition of the prevalence and seriousness of elder abuse, the Maricopa County Attorney's Office has developed a nationally recognized program to address its many different forms and facets. This broad-based program includes both physical and financial crimes against the elderly and vulnerable or incapacitated adults. Handled as a sub specialty by prosecutors in the Family Violence Bureau, the goal of the elder abuse program is to identify appropriate cases for prosecution, provide immediate safety for the victims, protect them against further abuse, minimize their trauma and hold offenders accountable.

Click here for a list of physical, behavioral, and sexual abuse indicators

Click here for a list of legal definitions

In the United States there is an estimated 2.1 million victims of elder abuse. In many cases this abuse comes at the hands of family members such as spouses, adult children, adult grandchildren, friends and facilities that provide long-term care.

Elders over the age of 50 represent 30% of the population in our nation. Elder abuse comes in many forms: physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, psychological abuse, financial abuse, and neglect.

Physical Abuse - is any type of physical force that results in injury, physical pain, restraints, hitting, and/or drug overdose.
Sexual Abuse - contact with an elder without consent. This may be in the form of physical sex acts and/or forcing them to watch pornographic material or viewing sex acts performed by other people.
Emotional Abuse - verbal abuse through: intimidation, humiliation, and habitual blaming.
Psychological Abuse - nonverbal abuses consist of: ignoring, isolating, terrorizing, or menacing.
Financial Abuse - by caregiver's unauthorized use of funds through check writing, credit card use, identity theft, personal belongings, and forging documents.
Neglect - failure to provide proper care to the patient. More than half of elder abuse cases reported come from improper care that is intentional by not treating bed sores, malnutrition, and unsafe living conditions.

YOU ARE NOT ALONE!

The Area Agency on Aging provides a 24-hour senior help line at (602) 264-4357. One call is all that is necessary to receive information on community resources or to arrange a free in-home assessment of your situation by a case manager. Consider utilizing Adult Day Health Care Centers which are located throughout the county. Seniors who are victims of domestic violence or elder abuse can be placed in free, safe housing for up to two weeks while they receive emotional support. Family caregivers who need to take time off from their responsibilities can enroll in an in-home respite program. There are also lists available of support groups for caregivers. Seniors can take advantage of a Benefits Assistance program which offers help with Medicare and supplemental claims forms, appeals, applying for Social Security, Medicare and SSI, explaining and comparing HMO and Medicare supplemental policies, reviewing eligibility for low income related programs, and information about long-term care policies. Other help offered includes case management, home-delivered meals, home health aid, home nursing, personal care assistance and housekeeping.

The out-of-pocket costs of caring for an aging relative averages nearly $6,000 a year according to the nation's first in-depth study of these expenses. This sum is more than double previous estimates and more than the average American household spends annually on health care and entertainment combined. Click here to read the study from the National Alliance for Caregiving and Evercare.

TO REPORT ELDER ABUSE

Adult Protective Services (877) 767-2385

TDD (877) 815-8390

FAX (602) 277-4984

CLICK HERE FOR MORE RESOURCES

How to Avoid Being a Victim

Be wary of strangers that show up unannounced at your door.
ALWAYS verify anyone who calls or comes to your house uninvited to provide any service.
NEVER give out personal information over the telephone or Internet unless you know for sure who you are dealing with. You should initiate any contact over the Internet.
Check out references and contact regulatory agencies (i.e., State Bar; Registrar of Contractors; Corporation Commission; City licenses, Better Business Bureau, etc.) and make sure they have a valid license or permit.
Place your name on the DO NOT CALL lists; don’t be afraid to hang-up on solicitors.
Obtain a written contract with a firm price before any work begins and obtain receipts.
Use secured postal mailboxes and retrieve your incoming mail in a timely manner.
SHRED all statements, bills, cancelled checks and anything else with your personal or account information.
Do not leave doors unsecured and garage doors open.
TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS - If it seems to good to be true, it probably is!

Maricopa Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP)

Volunteers dedicate their life-long talents, skills and passions to help people and organizations thrive. RSVP helps persons age 55 and over discover uses for their energy and expertise. To learn about opportunities in your area, call the Maricopa RSVP with Area Agency on Aging at (602) 264-2255.

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